Oxygenated polymers as sustainable materials for consumer products and liquid formulations

亲水性聚合物是聚合物科学的一个重要领域，其应用包括药物输送、自组装、表面修饰、催化和液体制剂。然而，不幸的是，这些大分子中的大多数是石化衍生的，基于不可降解的合成方法。由于推动更可持续和更循环的经济，人们越来越多地要求重新设计这些材料，重点是可再生原料和报废处理。为了设计可持续应用的新型可再生聚合物，有必要对聚合物合成进行基础研究，并了解其结构、性能和降解性之间的关系。这项研究将通过合成和研究用于液体配方的新型聚合物结构来解决这一挑战。选择了聚酯和聚碳酸酯，因为这些化学物质通常可通过水解降解，许多是可生物降解的，而且它们通常可以从生物资源中合成。这种方法将利用高活性、选择性和可控性的催化剂和工艺进行环氧化物/酸酐开环聚合，并有可能在以后扩展到环氧化物/二氧化碳共聚。本论文的重点可分为若干子目标，包括：i)合成新型亲水性聚酯和聚碳酸酯；ii)表征新型聚合物的稳定性、溶解性和生物降解性；iii)发展对亲水性聚合物的结构-性能-降解关系的理解；iv)研究后官能化以调整性能；v)优化反应条件以改进聚合控制。该项目将与联合利华合作，属于EPSRC聚合物材料、净零排放、循环经济和物理科学研究领域。

Hydrophilic polymers are an important area of polymer science with applications including; drug delivery, self-assembly, surface modification, catalysis and liquid formulations. Unfortunately, however, the majority of these macromolecules are petrochemical derived and based on non-degradable synthetic methodologies. Due to a push for a more sustainable and circular economy, there has been increased demand on re-designing these materials with a focus on renewable feedstocks and end-of-life disposal. Fundamental investigation of polymer synthesis and understanding of structure property degradability relationships is necessary, for the design of novel renewable polymers for sustainable applications. This research will address this challenge through synthesis and investigation of novel polymer structures for use in liquid formulations. Polyester and polycarbonates, have been selected as these chemistries are typically degradable by hydrolysis, many are biodegradable, and they can often be synthesised from bio-based resources. This approach will utilise highly active, selective and controllable catalysts and processes for epoxide/anhydride ring-opening polymerisation, with the potential for later expansion to epoxide/carbon dioxide copolymerisation. The focus of the thesis can be divided into a number of sub-aims including: i) Synthesise novel hydrophilic polyesters and polycarbonates; ii) Characterise the stability, solubility and biodegradability of the novel polymers; iii) Develop the understanding of structure-performance-degradation relationships for hydrophilic polymers; iv) Investigate post-functionalisation for tuning properties; v) Optimise reaction conditions for improved polymerisation control. The project will be a collaboration with Unilever and falls within the EPSRC polymer materials, net zero, circular economy, and physical sciences research areas.